JP2016085544A - Image forming system and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect data abnormality of an input file to be input to an image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: A file transmission part 202 temporarily stores a PDL file of a print job as a reference PDL file in a first memory when transmitting the PDL file of the print job to an image forming apparatus 100 through a network 102. A file reply part 204 replies the PDL file of the print job received from a terminal device 101 as a comparison PDL file to the terminal device 101 of a transmission source of the print job through the network 102. A file determination part 205 determines whether the comparison PDL file replied from the image forming apparatus 100 coincides with the reference PDL file. A file storage part 206 stores the comparison PDL file in the first memory in the case that the comparison PDL file does not coincide with the reference PDL file.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system and an image forming method.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, companies and offices have introduced image forming systems in which a terminal device that creates a print job and an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copier, or a multifunction peripheral are connected via a communication cable. In this image forming system, there are various technologies for improving user convenience.

  For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2013-42291 (Patent Document 1) discloses an image processing apparatus that analyzes a drawing command written in a memory and writes image data after gradation processing in the memory. This apparatus has a drawing command analyzing means for analyzing a drawing command and a drawing command table in which all the drawing commands are registered. Further, in this apparatus, when the drawing command analysis unit detects an error processing command storage unit storing an error processing command and a command error in which a drawing command read from the memory is not registered in the drawing command table, Error processing executing means for executing an error processing by executing an error processing command stored in the error processing command storage means. As a result, printing of an abnormal image or the like can be suppressed when a writing error occurs in the memory read by the drawing process.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-202261 (Patent Document 2) discloses that in the dump mode, the analysis unit analyzes the image data received by the reception unit, and there is an analysis error such as a command syntax error during the analysis. There has been disclosed an image forming apparatus that saves data around an analysis error recognition position in a pre-dump buffer and an error dump buffer by a dump processing unit if it occurs. In this apparatus, the stored data is output as a dump list by the image processing unit, and when the dump list is output, the position where the analysis error occurs is marked and output. As a result, when an analysis error is recognized, a dump list around the error can be output in order to quickly find the cause of the analysis error.

JP 2013-42291 A JP 2001-202261 A

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, an error that occurs during image processing in an image forming apparatus is detected, and data abnormality of an input file (PDL file, page description language file) input to the image forming apparatus is detected. There is a problem that cannot be detected. Further, the technique described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that it is impossible to detect a case where the input file is normal and the RIP processing or the like of the image forming apparatus is defective.

  The technique described in Patent Document 2 detects a grammatical error in a PDL file in the image forming apparatus, and detects a data abnormality other than the grammatical error, such as an abnormality in the color or length of a line segment of the data. There is a problem that it cannot be detected.

  On the other hand, in the image forming system, when an abnormal image exists in the printed image, the following three types can be cited as problems associated with the image forming apparatus. For example, as described above, when the PDL file is normal but the image forming apparatus has a problem (first error), when there is a syntax error in the PDL file (second error), This is when there is a data error other than a grammatical error (third error).

  Here, since the first error is caused by the image forming apparatus, it is easy to determine the error. On the other hand, the second error and the third error are highly likely to depend on the communication error of the communication unit connecting the terminal device and the image forming apparatus, but the reproducibility is extremely low, and the PDL file is stored in the terminal device or the image. Unless it is stored in the forming apparatus, it cannot be determined that the error (data is garbled) due to a communication error. That is, there is a problem that the second error and the third error cannot be clearly identified as an error due to a communication error or a malfunction on the image forming apparatus side.

  In addition, when the configuration in which the PDL file is always stored in the terminal device or the image forming apparatus in order to identify the cause of the second error and the third error, the second error or the third error occurs. Therefore, there is a problem in that all PDL files must be saved every time printing is performed, and the storage area is wasted.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming system and an image forming method capable of specifying a communication error without wasting a storage area. And

  An image forming system according to an aspect of the present invention is an image forming system including a terminal device and an image forming device, wherein the image forming device includes a file return unit, and the terminal device includes a file transmitting unit. And a file determination unit and a file storage unit. The file reply unit returns the PDL file of the print job received from the terminal device as a comparison PDL file to the terminal device that is the transmission source of the print job via the network. When transmitting the PDL file of the print job to the image forming apparatus via the network, the file transmission unit temporarily stores the PDL file of the print job in the first memory as a reference PDL file. The file determination unit determines whether or not the comparison PDL file returned from the image forming apparatus matches the reference PDL file. When the comparison PDL file does not match the reference PDL file, the file storage unit stores the comparison PDL file in the first memory.

  The file storage unit stores the comparison PDL file in the first memory together with the current date and time when the comparison PDL file does not match the reference PDL file. The file determination unit causes the print execution unit of the image forming apparatus to execute the print job when the comparison PDL file matches the reference PDL file. The terminal device further includes an error notification unit that notifies the terminal device and the image forming apparatus that a communication error has occurred when the comparison PDL file does not match the reference PDL file. When returning the comparison PDL file, the file reply unit temporarily stores the comparison PDL file in a second memory, and the file determination unit determines that the comparison PDL file matches the reference PDL file. The comparison PDL file temporarily stored in the second memory is erased by the file reply unit.

  An image forming method according to one aspect of the present invention is an image forming method of an image forming system including a terminal device and an image forming device, and includes a file transmission step, a file return step, a file determination step, and a file A storage step. In the file transmission step, when the terminal device transmits the PDL file of the print job to the image forming apparatus via the network, the PDL file of the print job is temporarily stored in the first memory as a reference PDL file. In the file reply step, the image forming apparatus returns the PDL file of the print job received from the terminal apparatus as a comparison PDL file to the terminal apparatus that is the transmission source of the print job via the network. The file determination step determines whether or not the comparison PDL file returned from the image forming apparatus matches the reference PDL file in the terminal device. In the file storage step, when the comparison PDL file does not match the reference PDL file in the terminal device, the comparison PDL file is stored in the first memory.

  According to the image forming system and the image forming method of the present invention, it is possible to specify a communication error without wasting a storage area.

1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system according to the present invention. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming system in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart for showing the execution procedure of the embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming system when no communication error occurs in an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming system when a communication error occurs in an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the following, an embodiment of an image forming system and an image forming method of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings for understanding of the present invention. In addition, the following embodiment is an example which actualized this invention, Comprising: The thing of the character which limits the technical scope of this invention is not. Moreover, the alphabet S added before the number in a flowchart means a step.

  Hereinafter, as an example of an embodiment of the present invention, an image forming system including a terminal device and an image forming apparatus will be described. The image forming apparatus of the present invention corresponds to, for example, a multifunction peripheral (MFP) having a function such as a facsimile, a copy, a scanner, and a printer, a copying machine, and a printer.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the image forming system 1, an image forming apparatus 100 and a terminal apparatus 101 are communicably connected via a network 102 such as a LAN. When the image forming apparatus 100 receives a print job including image data of a PDL file, the image forming apparatus 100 executes RIP (Raster Image Processor) processing on the PDL file of the print job, and converts it into image data of a raster image having a resolution necessary for printing. To do. Then, the image forming apparatus 100 executes the print job based on the print job setting conditions and the converted image data. Also, the terminal device 101 generates a print job by generating a file (image data) and a setting condition as a basis of the PDL file by a user operation. When the user designates a predetermined image forming apparatus 100, the terminal apparatus 101 transmits the print job to the designated image forming apparatus 100. The network 102 may be wired or wireless.

  Although not shown, the control circuits of the image forming apparatus 100 and the terminal apparatus 101 include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and drivers corresponding to each driving unit in an internal bus. Connected by. The CPUs of the multifunction peripheral 100 and the terminal device 101 use a RAM as a work area, for example, and execute a program stored in a ROM or the like. Further, the CPUs of the image forming apparatus 100 and the terminal apparatus 101 exchange data, instructions, signals, commands, and the like from the driver based on the execution results, and control the operation of each drive unit related to the execution of various processes. Further, for each unit (shown in FIG. 2) to be described later other than the drive unit, the CPU implements each unit by executing each program. The ROM, RAM, and the like store programs and data that realize each unit described below.

  Next, the configuration and execution procedure according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. First, a user who uses the terminal device 101 uses an operation unit of the terminal device 101 as a predetermined document as image data, and has predetermined setting conditions (for example, an image forming apparatus “multifunction device A” as a print output destination, When a paper size “A4” or the like is input, the print job creation unit 201 of the terminal apparatus 101 creates a print job based on the input image data and setting conditions (FIG. 3: S101).

  When the user inputs a print job execution key (transmission key) via the operation unit of the terminal apparatus 101, the print job creation unit 201 of the terminal apparatus 101 receives the input of the execution key and performs the printing. After the job image data is converted into a PDL file, the file transmission unit 202 is notified of this. Upon receiving the notification, the file transmission unit 202 temporarily stores the PDL file of the print job as a reference PDL file in a first memory provided in advance in the terminal device 101 (FIG. 3: S102).

  Here, when the file transmission unit 202 temporarily stores the reference PDL file in the memory, for example, after giving an identification number that can identify the reference PDL file (or the print job), the reference PDL file is stored. Store in the first memory. As a result, when a plurality of print jobs are created, a specific PDL file can be identified using the identification number.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the file transmission unit 202 transmits the print job attached with the reference PDL file (image data) to the designated image forming apparatus 100 under the setting conditions via the network 102. (FIG. 3: S103).

  On the other hand, when the print execution unit 203 of the image forming apparatus 100 receives a print job with a PDL file via the network 102 (FIG. 3: S104), it notifies the file return unit 204 to that effect. Upon receiving the notification, the file return unit 204 returns the received PDL file of the print job as a comparison PDL file to the terminal device 101 that is the transmission source of the print job via the network 102 (FIG. 3: S105). ).

  Here, the method by which the file reply unit 204 sends back the PDL file is not particularly limited. For example, the file return unit 204 may return the reference PDL file of the received print job as a comparison PDL file as it is to the terminal device 101, or when returning the reference PDL file, The image forming apparatus 100 may be temporarily stored in a second memory provided in advance (FIG. 3: S106). By temporarily storing the reference PDL file in the second memory, if a communication error on the network 102 occurs in the transmission of the reference PDL file from the terminal apparatus 101 to the image forming apparatus 100, the The reference PDL file can be used as evidence indicating the cause of the communication error.

  When the terminal device 101 receives a reply of the comparison PDL file from the file return unit 204 of the image forming apparatus 100 (FIG. 3: S107), the terminal device 101 notifies the file determination unit 205 to that effect, and receives the received file determination. The unit 205 determines whether or not the returned comparison PDL file matches the reference PDL file temporarily stored in the first memory of the terminal device 101 (FIG. 3: S108).

  Here, there is no limitation in particular in the method which the file determination part 205 determines. For example, the file determination unit 205 determines whether or not the pixel value of the pixel in the comparison PDL file and the pixel value of the pixel in the reference PDL file match for each pixel, and all the comparison PDL files If the pixel values of the pixels match the pixel values of all the pixels in the reference PDL file, it is determined that the comparison PDL file matches the reference PDL file. Thereby, it is possible to detect the occurrence of the communication error in detail. In addition, as described above, by determining whether the pixel values of all the pixels in the comparison PDL file match the pixel values of all the pixels in the reference PDL file, the PDL file is grammatically correct. If only the pixel values (data) are different, for example, even if the color or length of the line segment is abnormal, it can be detected as data corruption of the PDL file due to a communication error.

  As another method, when the file determination unit 205 determines whether the pixel value of the pixel in the comparison PDL file matches the pixel value of the pixel in the reference PDL file for each pixel, A non-matching ratio of pixels of the comparison PDL file that does not match a pixel value of the pixel of the reference PDL file is calculated with respect to all pixels of the comparison PDL file, and the calculated non-matching ratio is a preset threshold value. It is determined whether or not (for example, 10%) is exceeded. If the mismatch rate does not exceed the threshold, the file determination unit 205 determines that the comparison PDL file matches the reference PDL file, and if the mismatch rate exceeds the threshold, the file determination unit 205 may determine that the comparison PDL file does not match the reference PDL file.

  If the comparison PDL file matches the reference PDL file as a result of the determination in S108 (FIG. 3: S108 YES), the file determination unit 205 determines that the communication error has not occurred, and the network This is notified to the print execution unit 203 of the image forming apparatus 100 via 102. Upon receiving the notification, the print execution unit 203 executes RIP processing on the PDL file of the print job, and executes the print job based on the setting conditions of the print job and the image data after the RIP processing (FIG. 3: S109). Thus, when the communication error has not occurred, the print job is properly executed.

  Here, when the file determination unit 205 determines that the comparison PDL file matches the reference PDL file, the comparison PDL file stored in the first memory and the reference PDL file (including the identification number) And are preferably deleted. As a result, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the storage capacity of the first memory of the terminal device 101 is wasted.

  There is no particular limitation on the method by which the print execution unit 203 executes a print job. For example, the print execution unit 203 may simply execute the print job (FIG. 3: S109), and the file return unit 204 temporarily stores the comparison PDL file in the second memory as described above. If the comparison PDL file is received from the file determination unit 205, the comparison PDL file temporarily stored in the second memory is deleted (FIG. 3: S110). The print job may be executed (FIG. 3: S109). As a result, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the storage capacity of the second memory of the image forming apparatus 100 is wasted.

  When the print execution unit 203 executes a print job and an abnormal image is output to the printed material when the predetermined printed material is discharged as shown in FIG. 4, the reference PDL file is normally formed. Since the image has arrived at the apparatus 100, even if there is no reproducibility of the abnormal image of the printed matter, it can be determined that there is a defect in the image forming apparatus 100 (for example, RIP processing).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S108 that the comparison PDL file does not match the reference PDL file (FIG. 3: S108 NO), a communication error has occurred in the network 102 as shown in FIG. Therefore, the file determination unit 205 determines that the communication error has occurred and notifies the file storage unit 206 of it. Receiving the notification, the file storage unit 206 stores the comparison PDL file in the first memory (FIG. 3: S111).

  Here, it is preferable that the file storage unit 206 stores the comparison PDL file in the first memory together with the current date and time. The first memory for storing the comparison PDL file, the reference PDL file, and the date and time is a memory built in the terminal device 101 (for example, SSD (Solid State Drive)) or a memory of an external storage device (for example, an HDD). (Hard Disk Drive)). In addition to the comparison PDL file, the reference PDL file, and the current date and time, a print job file name, an identification number, and the like may be stored. In addition, the file storage unit 206 notifies the file return unit 204 of the image forming apparatus 100 to that effect via the network 102, and temporarily sends the file return unit 204 to the second memory of the image forming apparatus 100. The current date and time are stored in the stored reference PDL file. Accordingly, it is possible to analyze the cause of the communication error by analyzing the PDL file and the date and time stored in the first and second memories of the terminal device 101 and the image forming apparatus 100. For example, the reference PDL file stored in the first memory of the terminal device 101 is retransmitted to the image forming apparatus 100 via the network 102 or stored in the second memory of the image forming apparatus 100. By retransmitting the reference PDL file to the terminal device 101 via the network 102, it is confirmed whether or not a similar abnormal image occurs, and there is a problem with the image forming apparatus 100 or the terminal device 101. It becomes possible to prove that there is no.

  In particular, since communication errors have low reproducibility, storing all the PDL files related to the communication error and the date and time is useful for analyzing the cause of the communication error retroactively. Also, by storing all the PDL files related to communication errors, it becomes easy to perform a communication error reproducibility test, so that the number of reproducibility tests can be greatly reduced.

  When the file storage unit 206 completes the storage, the error notification unit 207 notifies the error notification unit 207, and the error notification unit 207 that has received the notification generates a communication error in the terminal device 101 and the image forming apparatus 100. A notification to the effect is sent (FIG. 3: S112).

  Here, there is no limitation in particular in the method which the error notification part 207 notifies. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the error notification unit 207 displays a communication error screen on a display unit (for example, a liquid crystal display) of the terminal device 101 or displays the communication unit on the display unit of the image forming apparatus 101 via the network 102. A communication error screen is displayed on the touch panel (for example, a touch panel) to prompt the user to call a service person. As a result, the user can know that a communication error has occurred. The error notification unit 207 notifies the print execution unit 203 to that effect and prohibits the print execution unit 203 from executing the print job. As a result, it is possible to inhibit printing of a PDL file that may generate an abnormal image, thereby suppressing wasteful paper and toner consumption.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, it is assumed that one PDL file is attached to the print job. However, even if a plurality of (for example, 100 pages) PDL files are attached to the print job. It is the same. In this case, the file return unit 204 returns all the PDL files as comparison PDL files to the terminal device 101, and the file determination unit 205 stores the received comparison PDL file in the first memory of the terminal device 101. It is determined for each PDL file whether it matches the stored reference PDL file. The print execution unit 203 executes a print job for the comparison PDL file that matches the reference PDL file. The file storage unit 206 stores, for example, the comparison PDL file, the reference PDL file, and the current date and time in the first memory for the comparison PDL file that does not match the reference PDL file. As a result, among the PDL files of a plurality of pages, the PDL file in which no communication error occurs is printed, the PDL file in which the communication error has occurred is saved, and the attribute and form of the PDL file causing the occurrence of the communication error, etc. It becomes possible to analyze in more detail. In addition, it is possible to prevent wasteful consumption of storage areas (memory, resources).

  In the embodiment of the present invention, each device of the image forming system is configured to include each unit. However, a program that realizes each unit may be stored in a storage medium, and the storage medium may be provided. . In this configuration, each program is read by each device, and each device realizes each unit. In that case, the program itself read from the recording medium exhibits the effects of the present invention. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a method for storing the steps executed by each means in a hard disk.

  As described above, the image forming system and the image forming method according to the present invention are useful for an image forming system including an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral, a copying machine, a printer, a scanner, and the like, and wastes a storage area. This is effective as an image forming system and an image forming method capable of specifying a communication error without any error.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming system 100 MFP 101 Terminal device 102 Network 201 Print job creation part 202 File transmission part 203 Print execution part 204 File reply part 205 File determination part 206 File storage part 207 Error notification part

Claims (6)

An image forming system including a terminal device and an image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus includes a file reply unit that returns a PDL file of a print job received from the terminal device as a comparison PDL file to a terminal device that is a transmission source of the print job via a network.
A file transmission unit for temporarily storing the PDL file of the print job as a reference PDL file in a first memory when transmitting the PDL file of the print job to the image forming apparatus via the network; ,
A file determination unit that determines whether a comparison PDL file returned from the image forming apparatus matches the reference PDL file;
An image forming system, comprising: a file storage unit that stores the comparison PDL file in the first memory when the comparison PDL file does not match the reference PDL file. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein when the comparison PDL file does not match the reference PDL file, the file storage unit stores the comparison PDL file together with a current date and time in the first memory. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the file determination unit causes the print execution unit of the image forming apparatus to execute the print job when the comparison PDL file matches the reference PDL file. The terminal device further includes an error notification unit that notifies the terminal device and the image forming device that a communication error has occurred when the comparison PDL file does not match the reference PDL file. The image forming system according to claim 1. When returning the comparison PDL file, the file reply unit temporarily stores the comparison PDL file in a second memory;
The file determination unit deletes the comparison PDL file temporarily stored in the second memory by the file return unit when the comparison PDL file matches the reference PDL file. The image forming system according to item. An image forming method of an image forming system including a terminal device and an image forming apparatus,
A file transmission step of temporarily storing the PDL file of the print job as a reference PDL file in a first memory when the terminal device transmits the PDL file of the print job to the image forming apparatus via a network;
A file return step in which the image forming apparatus returns a PDL file of the print job received from the terminal apparatus as a comparison PDL file to the terminal apparatus that is the transmission source of the print job via the network;
A file determination step of determining whether or not the comparison PDL file returned from the image forming apparatus matches the reference PDL file in the terminal device;
In the terminal device, when the comparison PDL file does not match the reference PDL file, a file saving step of saving the comparison PDL file in the first memory;
An image forming method comprising:

Images